We have been talking as a family about this verse some over the last few days, so I thought it would be a good thing to look at the Hebrew and see what it was really talking about.
Prepare thy work without,
and make ready thy things in the field,
and after build thy house.
Now this can be taken in quite a few ways, first we can take it at face value and go with the wise saying, "Don't start any entrepreneurial undertaking without the proper funds" we don't want to be like the man who gets a vision of a good business and then go's and starts it, without thinking about the cost.
We can also look at the verse and say, "don't live outside your means" this is especially true about houses, rather than go into debt in this economy live in a small cabin for a while, so that you wouldn't have to go into debt to buy food! Get your business in order, or get a good steady job and have money saved, before you think about buying something that you cannot really afford, and have to live with the consequences, the lack of sleep, the working two jobs just to keep from loosing your house, and most importantly, not being able to disciple your children because your gone all the time working outside the home, to pay for the debt that you made by buying something outside your means. Is it worth it?
there is one more way I could find to look at this verse, if you look at the Greek definition of House in this verse, you will see it says (at least in Strong's concordance) especially family, so the verse could be read to say that you should (and this is a paraphrase) "prepare your business, and have moneys saved, and then start a family". Its a good thing to be prepared, especially today with the nation in the state it is, you want to have the ability to support a family before you start one.
Now don't just take this from me, do some study on your own and find out for yourself, its amazing how the scriptures can come to light, and to life when you look at the meanings of the words in the original languages.
One more thing, here is Matthew Henry's commentary on this verse (his whole commentary of the bible is online).
This is a rule of prudence in the management of household affairs; for all good men should be good husbands, and manage with discretion, which would prevent a great deal of sin, and trouble, and disgrace to their profession. 1. We must prefer necessaries before conveniences, and not lay that out for show which should be expended for the support of the family. We must be contented with a mean cottage for a habitation, rather than want, or go in debt for, food convenient. 2. We must not think of building till we can afford it: "First apply thyself to thy work without in the field; let thy ground be put into good order; look after thy husbandry, for it is that by which thou must get; and, when thou hast got well by that, then, and not till then, thou mayest think of rebuilding and beautifying thy house, for that is it upon which, and in which, thou wilt have occasion to spend.’’ Many have ruined their estates and families by laying out money on that which brings nothing in, beginning to build when they were not able to finish. Some understand it as advice to young men not to marry (for by that the house is built) till they have set up in the world, and not wherewith to maintain a wife and children comfortably. 3. When we have any great design on foot it is wisdom to take it before us, and make the necessary preparations, before we fall to work, that, when it is begun, it may not stand still for want of materials. Solomon observed this rule himself in building the house of God; all was made ready before it was brought to the ground, 1 Ki. 6:7.
Have a great day, and tell me what you think about this, even better make your own post with your findings.
For now I have to go.
Samuel
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